MAFS stars Awhina Rutene and Billy Belcher reveal surprising new collaboration amid romance speculation: 'Gonna be spicy!'
Married At First Sight stars Awhina Rutene and Billy Belcher have revealed a surprising collaboration.
Just under three months after their stint on the Channel Nine reality juggernaut, the pair are making a return to the small screen.
This time around though, they'll be helping Perth-based singletons find love in a new YouTube dating series called 1Rose.
Announcing the upcoming series on Instagram with a casting call this week, organisers revealed that the series was an extension of their intimate, speed-dating events.
'If you've been to our events, you know the experience,' the announcement post read.
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'But for the show, we're switching things up with a fresh new setting, exciting new elements, and unexpected twists.'
The post went on to explain that each show would feature 16 singles looking for a potential love match.
'At the end of the night, you'll have your 1ROSE to give to someone who sparked your interest,' the post concluded.
Commenting on the announcement, Billy, 32, wrote: 'Gonna be spicy, this!' while Awhina, 30, simply offered three love heart emojis.
Neither MAFS star will be in the running, however, with Billy taking on the role of host while Awhina handles the commentary duties.
Speaking to Perth Now about the new venture, Awhina said the fast-paced events would take a lot of the 'grunt work' out of awkward social situations.
'It's not like when you go to a bar or nightclub and you're trying to gauge whether someone's in a relationship or not, and whether they're just out for fun,' she said.
'And then there's also those questions that you don't necessarily ask when you're out at a bar. So I guess it takes a lot of the grunt work out of it.'
The publication also reported that the events would feature many twists and turns, including cash prizes, surprise rounds, and hidden matches for each participant, based on pre-selected criteria.
Awhina added that her MAFS co-star could not wait to take on hosting duties, likening him to a 'golden retriever at the moment.'
'I know it's a dating event, and the singles are there to get to know each other, but Billy likes to be the main character,' she said.
The announcement comes amid speculation that Awhina and Billy are more than friends.
Most recently, the pair sent the rumour mill into overdrive after enjoying a cosy date night in Perth earlier this month.
Awhina shared a series of loved-up snaps on Instagram with Billy during an outing to The Garden in Perth – further igniting speculation that their friendship has turned romantic.
In one mirror selfie taken in an elevator, Awhina looked sensational in a figure-hugging black mini dress with long sleeves, her sleek brunette hair cascading past her shoulders.
Beside her, Billy cut a rugged figure in a sleeveless black top that showed off his tattooed arms, as he embraced Awhina from behind and beamed at the camera.
'It's not like when you go to a bar or nightclub and you're trying to gauge whether someone's in a relationship or not, and whether they're just out for fun,' Awhina told Perth Now
Another photo showed the MAFS beauty sipping a glass of red wine at the trendy bar, while a cheeky Billy hid behind a drinks menu.
Fans of the reality show erupted with excitement in the comments, thrilled that the pair many felt should have been matched on the show might have finally found love with each other.
Many viewers have long suspected Awhina and Billy's chemistry, noting that the MAFS experts got it wrong by not pairing them in the first place.
This flurry of fan enthusiasm comes after months of speculation about the duo's relationship.
Both Awhina and Billy are based in Western Australia, and they struck up a close bond during the marriage experiment.
Their respective on-screen marriages famously imploded when it was revealed that Awhina's TV husband, Adrian Araouzou, and Billy's wife, Sierah Swepstone, had been secretly meeting up behind their backs during filming.
The betrayal left Awhina and Billy heartbroken, and the pair chose to leave the experiment separately amid the drama.
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